Bob Schaffer on War & Peace

Senate challenger 2008; previously Republican Representative (CO-4)

Surge is working; but it might take years

Q: You have said a definition of success is that if Iraq on its own has security, a police department that functions, and a political and an economy that is stable, you said, “It’s not going to be in the next two or three years, most likely.”
Do you think that the American troops will be there five years from now in Iraq?

SCHAFFER: Hard to say. If they are, I hope that it’s not involved in tactical involvement on a day-to-day basis, but strategic. But I’d hoped that we’d have
American troops out even sooner. That definition you read, was before there was a clear indication that the surge has worked. I am optimistic, however, that we are achieving those objectives right now.

Q: [to Udall]: A year ago you said that the
surge was a tragic mistake. Were you wrong?

UDALL: It’s time to leave Iraq. It’s time to leave Iraq responsibly.

Q: Were you wrong on the surge?

UDALL: The surge has helped. There are other factors in Iraq that have been helpful.

Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo.

Vote on an amendment to the "Kosovo and Southwest Asia Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act" which would prohibit the use of funds for any invasion of Yugoslavia with U.S. ground forces except in time of war.